Worship and War

My current book is titled "Called To Worship" by Vernon M. Whaley. I continue to find this reading insightful and encouraging as I study worship and the tainted view we have placed on it over time. It's not an old problem, as a matter of fact, it's been happening since the beginning of time. It's good for us to be reminded of this struggle and to refocus our attention on what is good and true.

Todays reading spoke about worship wars and how there is a price to be paid as a result. By juxtaposing Cain and Able's story with World War II, the author brought to light the fact that both instances were started by personal preference, the desire to make one's preferences acceptable to all. Cain and Able brought different offerings to God, of which God accepted Able's and not Cain's. This was not out of material refusal, but the heart of the matter. Able brought his offering at a cost to himself, while Cain brought his offering out of convenience to himself, therefore God rejected Cain's offering.

Cain didn't like being rejected, and perhaps in an attempt to make himself feel better or possibly to right the "injustice" done to him, he killed his brother Able. You could say he waged a war. Murder, jealously, self interest, tainted this act of worship. Whaley quotes; "War is never without fallout. Innocent people are caught in the crossfire. When Cain took Ables' life, he robbed Able of his worship.'' Able obviously suffered a physical death, but Cain also suffered. He will no longer enjoy the companionship of his brother, nor will he have an easy life.

"War always affects innocent people. The statistics of World War II prove it. It is noted as the single deadliest conflicts the world has ever seen. Germany, the nation most responsible for the war, lost more than 5.5 million soldiers...China 3.8 million...Japan 2 million...Soviet Union 10 million...USA 407,300...not counting Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania and the United Kingdom." There were over 25 million soldiers lost in this conflict, what's worse? There were over 47 MILLION civilians killed in this conflict. Hitlers heartless, selfish act of trying to eradicate the Jews brought the world to it's knees, and changed the lives of countless millions.

So what do these two things have to do with each other. Worship wars can have devastating effects on the church as well.
We, ourselves can be misled AND we can mislead the generations to come when we seek to push the issues of:
Tempo: faster slower
Style: (contemporary, classical, praise music, hymns)
Volume: louder, softer
Demonstrative worship: Raising hands, dancing, clapping, sitting, standing
Scripture translations: NASB, NIV, NLT, KJV, Message, The Voice

When we focus on these topics and allow our personal preferences to drive how we feel about worship, we take our focus off of the ONE thing that matters the most, GOD.

  John 4:23 says "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

• 
  

Misguided worship begins in the heart...like Cain and Hitler, innocent lives are changed forever when we focus on the wrong stuff. When we worship God in Spirit and in truth, we worship with our whole focus on Him. Not what we like to hear, not what we like to sing, not what we prefer or think is more reverent. God looks on our hearts, I do not believe he looks at the song set, the stage design or the tempo of the song. I believe he looks on the heart of His people, and this alone he judges.

Each morning before I walk up to lead worship, I ask myself....What's on my heart? Why am I doing this today? I do what I call a "Heart Check" where I ask... Is my motive God honoring? Am I here to lead people in worship or to worship myself and my personal preferences? It serves to refocus my heart on God and what's important to Him rather me.

God is worthy of our worship, our unhindered and God honoring praise. 

Called To Worship

I started reading a new book, "Called To Worship". OK it's actually an old school book that looks like it was never read........... I picked it up again today and found it refreshing to read these words.

"The Bible tells us that "the eyes of the Lord are always upon us" (Deut 11:12 kjv), and as He watches, His spirit is ever at work, moving, convicting, suggesting, calling. And today, God is calling men and women, boys and girls, from every race and culture. He is calling the professional and the laborer. He's calling me - and He's calling you - to worship Him."
(Vernon M. Whaley - Called To Worship)

In The Blink Of An Eye

It amazes me from time to time just how fast things can happen. Tonight we were enjoying a beautiful evening at a relatives house, celebrating Tylers 11th birthday with a pool party, good food and plenty of hyper boys. They spent time swimming and then eating and then back to swimming. In the course of the evening while I was talking to another relative about ministry, my youngest son came up to me and said he was done swimming and wanted me to take his life jacket off of him. I did and wrapped him up in a towel to warm up and went back to talking.

It was about 15 minutes later I hear Lisa yelling at one of the boys, saying: "Get him!! Get him!!" The fear in her voice caused me to jump to my feet and start heading her direction when I saw Ethan just going under the surface of the water unable to touch and NO lifejacket. It seemed all very slow motion for me but before I knew it I was jumping into the pool fully clothed to get him above water. I took him to the side as he gagged and coughed. I set him on the edge of the pool and all I could do was hug him, It scared the crap out of me to see his little face struggling to get above water to take a breath.

As I stood there in the pool hugging him, he said to me, " I couldn't breathe..." I hugged him again and sent him over to mom. It was at that moment I realized that I wasn't dressed to be in the pool, including my wallet, iPhone and keys. Somehow I didn't really care, in the instant I was on pure reaction to get my kid safe and sound. I don't think it bothered Ethan as much as it did Lisa and I. It really bothered me that I was the one that took his life jacket off in the first place. Thing is there was about 20 or so of us standing around and no one saw him go in except for his cousin who came and told us as we began to realize what was happening. It only took a second for a happy occasion to turn tense and dangerous.

I rode my motorcycle home from the party which gave me plenty of time to think about the events of the night. This will sound bad, but tonight I soaked everything in my wallet, soaked, maybe ruined my dress shoes, trashed my iPhone (which was borrowed)...........But none of that matters because I still have my son. I would do anything to make sure he is safe. Jumping into a pool isn't dangerous, but the truth is I would do it a thousand times over, even risking my life to save his. So if I, a sinful wretched miserable soul could do that, how much more could my Heavenly Father go out of His way to save me. For me, tonight was a huge reminder of how much God has done to rescue his children from the depths of death.

Father thank you for keeping Ethan safe, and thank you for rescuing me from death through your son Jesus Christ.

Survey of Jonah

Survey of Jonah (NIV)
By
Chris J. Kuntz

1. General Materials: Book of Prophecy with the themes of vengeance, obedience, compassion, and forgiveness.

2. Specific materials (Chapter Titles)
Chapter 1 – Jonahs plan for vengeance
Chapter 2 – Correction and repentance
Chapter 3 - Obedient servant
Chapter 4 – Compassion and forgiveness

3. Main Units and Subunits (Outline)

Prescript (1:1-2)

Part 1: God’s mission ignored (1:3 – 2:10)
Vengeance cast on people of Nineveh by Jonah (1:3)
Jonah the bad omen (1:4-16)
Jonah’s rescue (1:17)
Jonah’s recognizes his predicament (2:1- 6a)
Jonah’s repentance (2:6b-9)
Jonah delivered (2:10)

Part 2: God’s mission completed 3:1 – 4:11)
Prescript (3:1-2)
Jonah obeys (3:3)
The message delivered (3:4-5)

4. Major Structural Relationships and Questions:

A. Preparation/Realization: the Prescript in 1:1 sets up what happens in the following chapters by telling the reader that
God is speaking, and to whom He is speaking. Jonah, son of Amittai.

Questions:

Definitional: How does this statement prepare the reader for what follows in the book?

Rational: Why is it important that we know who Jonah’s father was?

Implicational: What if Jonah was not of Israeli background?

B. Causation: Nineveh’s wickedness causes God to bring a word of judgment through Jonah. (1:2) Also Jonah decided to
ignore the word of the Lord and flee to Tarshish, which led to the events at sea. (1:3-17)

Questions:

Definitional: Why is it important that we know where Jonah tried to flee? What does the author mean by “come before me”
when speaking about the wickedness of Nineveh?

Rational: Why does the author give so much detail in chapter two about the events on the boat, such as; where Jonah went
to sleep, and throwing cargo off to lighten the ship?

Implicational: Verse 5 indicates that the sailors were of various backgrounds as it states that “…each cried out to his own
god.” What would have happened if all the sailors would have been of Israel background and all claimed the One
True God as their own? How would have that changed how they reacted to Jonah’s running away?

C. Recurrence: It is mentioned that Jonah is fleeing the Lord in several different verses. 1:3a & 3b, 1:5b (I think that Jonah
going below deck during the great storm was another way of Jonah trying to ignore God and flee from Him.) 1:12
(Jonah asks to be thrown overboard into the raging sea, no doubt that was an attempt at suicide, yet another attempt
to avoid God.) 4:3 (Again Jonah tries to escape God’s plan by asking God to kill him.)

Questions:

Definitional: What is it that causes Jonah to want to get out of this assignment so badly that he would be willing to take
his own life?

Rational: What is the message about fleeing that the author is trying to relay through the book?

Implicational: What if Jonah had not suggested to the sailors that he be thrown over board, would they have come to that
conclusion on their own? What if Jonah had not called out to God to save him after being thrown into the water,
would God have saved him anyway? And what does that tell us about God’s mercy and compassion?

D. Cruciality / Climax with Inclusio: There is a major shift of direction in chapter 2. Chapter 1 Jonah is fleeing from the Lord
attending to his own plans of not preaching to the people of Nineveh, so much so that he is willing to die before
going there. After he is thrown into the sea, he repents of his sin and pledges to fulfill what he vowed to do. This is
where I believe the climax happens in this section. Jonah states in 2:7 “When my life was ebbing away, I
remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you in your holy temple” Strong’s definition of the word “remember”
is “to remember, recall…to make a memorial, make remembrance” The word “remembered” is a turning point in
the mind of Jonah as he contemplates God and what he had done in Jonahs life. This small word is the climax
and axis point of the story, where it pertains to Jonah and his relationship with God. The inclusio happens in 2:1 and
again in 2:10 with the mention of the fish.

Questions:

Definitional: What does Jonah intend to sacrifice as he states in 4:9?

Rational: Why does the author use inclusio in this section of scripture?

Implicational: How does Jonah’s repentance of his own sin, relate to the repentance of Nineveh’s, and how might this story
be different if God would have used a log for Jonah to float on instead of being swallowed by the fish? With the
view of the sea that many had in that day, how did that effect Jonah’s thankfulness for being swallowed by the
fish?
5. Strategic Areas:

1:1 Preparation/Realization: the Prescript in 1:1 sets up what happens in the following chapters by telling the reader that
God is speaking, and to whom He is speaking. Jonah, son of Amittai.

1:1-17 Causation: Nineveh’s wickedness causes God to bring a word of judgment through Jonah. (1:2) Also Jonah
decided to ignore the word of the Lord and flee to Tarshish, which led to the events at sea. (1:3-17)

Recurrence: It is mentioned that Jonah is fleeing the Lord in several different verses. 1:3a & 3b, 1:5b, 1:12, 4:3

Chapter 2 Cruciality / Climax with Inclusio – This is a major shift in the story

6. Major impressions

 Jonah is set on running away, then repents of his sin and does what he is commanded to do, but then turns again and is
angry at God for doing what he knew God would do. His memory seems to be short on the forgiveness and mercy just
afforded him in the sea.

 God’s sovereignty and compassion/Mercy seem to be a reoccurring theme in this book

 The biggest impression for me what just how quickly we tend to forget God’s mercy in our lives. Jonah forgets fairly
quickly, and after his experience, one would think that you would be changed forever. This event was written
approximately 785-760 B.C. and Nineveh is eventually destroyed in 612 B.C. so their memory and act of repentance must
have been short as well.

Communication in churches

Thesis Statement:
A clear and continuously cast vision, along with good consistent communication to ministry leaders within the church, are essential to keeping ministries aligned to the purpose and mission of the church, and functioning as one body moving forward to change the world. “Communication is defined as “the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another. It involves a sender transmitting an idea to a receiver.” (http://blog.memberhub.com).

Communication is one of the biggest areas overlooked when it comes to working with groups of people. Many think that information can be given one or two times and that is enough, however; over time I have found that you cannot over communicate, especially information that is critical to the success of your organization and achieving your goals. The PISCO Model has been very helpful in giving decision-making teams the right tools and information, in the right order, to come to a decisive and functional answer to the issues they face. The PISCO Model was developed by Edward de Bono, and involves five specific steps that help effectively problem solve an issue in the simplest way. Let’s explore this model further by applying it to a real problem facing many small churches today.

P – Problem
Most small churches are comprised of volunteer ministry leaders. These are normal everyday people working a secular job and serving God by leading a specific ministry in the church. Through my own experience, in churches I have served in, I have seen these heroes’ lead, teach, organize their areas, and affect lives for the Kingdom, but mostly on their own accord, and often times un-skilled. “When people feel inadequate for the responsibility, they become discouraged. The Jews rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem became discouraged when they perceived the rubble to be beyond their ability to move (Nehemiah 4:10). Training for ministry enables people to develop confidence that they are competent for the tasks.” (http://ministryhealth.net). Unfortunately, I saw many of these ministry leaders go week to week serving in these areas having not sat down with the leadership of the church on a regular basis, seldom getting face time with the senior pastor or elder of the church to make sure what they were doing matched the purpose and mission of the church holistically. This usually leads to burn out and frustration of the volunteer because they are left to feel that what they do doesn’t matter or isn’t appreciated, and that is communicated to them by the leadership of the church not getting involved or being interested in that particular ministry.

The problem is not that the leadership of the church thinks the ministry isn’t important, it is the realization that there is a lack of regular communication and consistent vision casting coming from either the senior pastor or, leadership of the church. The other thing that is lacking is the encouragement and communication that should come from the leadership directly to the volunteer’s of these ministries. Subsequently they are left feeling unappreciated and out of the loop as the church moves on around them. As a result of this, the ministries begin to develop a mission statement all their own, and although it may be with the best intentions, many times end up causing friction with the churches mission statement, thereby causing a separation or negating of the effectiveness of that particular ministry at the church level.

So to summarize, a lack of regular communication and consistent vision casting for volunteer ministry leaders is lacking or non-existent, resulting in burnout, frustration in the ministry leader, and a feeling of being alone in their leadership. This issue needs to be corrected because it is unfair for the church to expect volunteers to lead ministries blindly. I believe there exists an opportunity to repair some damaged relationships and to align some powerful ministries with the vision and mission of the church as a whole.

I – Input
In order to gather the appropriate information to solve this issue, the following are some questions that should be asked of the volunteer ministry leaders and key leadership of the church:
1. How many times in the past year have you sat down with either the senior pastor or a member of the leadership team to discuss your part in the bigger picture of the churches mission and vision?
2. When was the last time the senior pastor or a member of the leadership team checked in on you to see if there was anything you needed to help you lead your ministry better and or more effectively?
3. How many times have you and other ministry leaders met, as a whole, to discuss your areas of ministry, creative ideas, and celebrate wins?
4. How can the senior leadership of the church best serve you and help you grow and succeed in this ministry you lead?

For the key leadership of the church the same questions could and should be asked in the reverse connotation, such as; State the last time you offered some support to a volunteer ministry leader or came along side them and served them so they could succeed in their ministry? I also believe that asking questions like: “What areas are causing information to not be communicated effectively? Is it our approach or style of communication? Or is it the infrequency of our communication with our volunteers? should be asked in order to gain some knowledge in the area of how our volunteers best receive information. This will aid us in communicating the solution to our problem in a manner in which they will understand and retain the data.


S – Solutions
Several solutions to the issue should arise during this process of analyzing the input gathered. Once the input has been collected and organized in like subjects, we should begin to think of creative solutions to our communication problem. Exploring solutions from different angles such as, solutions from the top down or bottom up, will offer a well-rounded view from all parties involved. One might even consider outside influences that could bridge the gap that exists. At this point, the imagination can usually be the most powerful tool as brainstorming allows for outside of the box thinking to happen. Once all the possible solutions have been thought out and listed, the team should begin analyzing each one with several filters in place. Is it practical? Which solution is the strongest in terms of effectiveness? Some possible solutions for this particular issue might be as follows:

1. The senior pastor or senior leadership of the church should meet on an individual basis with each volunteer ministry leader once a month to communicate vision, assess the progress and direction of the ministry in question. Once very month might be too much in some cases so the adjustment could be made at the discretion of the leadership team. During this meeting the goal will be to try to get a sense of what the volunteer needs to be successful in their leadership of that ministry. Communicate the vision and mission of the church and explain how this particular ministry can help fulfill that mission and vision. And to communicate any other vital information that might be needed. This will do two things, it will allow the senior pastor or leadership team to be aware of what is happening in that ministry and it will let the ministry leader know that what they do matters and that they matter in the grand scheme of things. “ Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed the concept of a hierarchy of needs through which people progress. In our society, most people have reasonably satisfied their two lower levels of needs: physiological needs (food and basic provision) and their security and safety needs (shelter and protection from the elements and physical danger). Beyond these two basic need levels, people progress to satisfy the three upper levels: )1) social needs for love, acceptance, and belonging; (2) ego needs to be heard, appreciated, and wanted; and (3) self-actualizing needs, including the need to achieve one’s fullest potential through professional, philanthropic, political, educational, and artistic channels.” (DeFrene & Lehman, 2006). I think this will enhance the leadership of that volunteer and therein enhance the success of their ministry.

2. Two times per year, the senior pastor and senior leadership of the church should get together with all the volunteer and staff ministry leaders to express their appreciation for the hard work that those involved put into their respective ministries. During this time of celebration and recognition, it would yet another opportunity for the leadership of the church to communicate why each ministry is important and how each ministry fits into the overall mission and vision of the church. Gathering all the volunteers and staff together in one location also provides the opportunity for community to happen. When ministry leaders know that they are not alone in their ministry, it gives them energy and drive to fight the good fight and continue to impact the world around them.

C – Choice
Once the team has explored all the solutions and have chosen what they believe to be the best of their list, a statement should be written that communicates clearly what solution has been chosen and why. It should include clear wording that explains what this solution is intended to do and why, and how will it affect those involved? Such a statement would be broken into three parts and it might look like this:

Choice Statement:
“We believe that creating an environment where the leadership team and the senior pastor can regularly sit down and discuss with each ministry leader their concerns and needs, they will then be able to come to a solution and aid in the success of that ministry leader.”
Vision:
“We see a future where all ministry leaders are in tune with the overall mission and vision of the church as a result of clear constant communication between other ministry leaders and both the senior pastor and senior leadership team of the church.”
Goals:
“Our goal is to create an environment in which excitement and passion fill the air on a daily basis, because everyone knows their part and how they fit into the big picture of life change within the church. Ministry leaders will understand why they do what they do and the importance of doing it well”
O-Operation:
In order to effect change within the church and to close the gap in the lack of communication, the change team must put feet to the idea, and put it into action. Once again the change team will need to develop a statement that effectively communicates the problem, the solution, how it will work and what the intended result will be. Such a statement might sound something like this:

To all volunteer and staff ministry leaders:
We as the senior leadership team of the church recognize that we have not been communicating effectively or clearly with our volunteer or staff ministry leaders, for this we apologize. In order to correct the lack of communication that exists between senior leadership and volunteer ministry leaders, and to help remove the frustration that comes from said lack of communication; effective January 3, 2011, the senior leadership team and or the senior pastor will begin meeting with individual volunteer and staff ministry leaders once every two months to discuss the mission and vision of the church, and how that particular ministry fits into the bigger picture. At that time, they will also discuss any needs and or concerns the ministry leader has pertaining to their ministry, and together will work to find a solution to help the volunteer or staffer succeed as a leader and in their respective ministry.

Each volunteer and staff ministry leader will be asked to attend one ministry related conference or educational class per year. There will be $250 per ministry allocated for this training annually. The intended goal is for our volunteers and staff to continue to grow in their leadership and ministry area. In addition to the individual meetings and annual training opportunities, there will be a church wide volunteer and staff meeting two times per year to gather all ministry leaders together in one location for community, mission and vision casting, and to also celebrate together our wins and to recognize those who serve in these positions. This will create community, networking and a sense of body that has been lacking among our ministry leaders. 1 Corinthians 12: 24b-26 says, “…God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (NIV). Therefore, we desire to become as one body, serving with the same passion, knowledge, and mission in mind to impact the Kingdom of God.

In order to track our progress, and assess our goals, each ministry leader will be asked to fill out a monthly report that will focus on three key areas; (1) Communication with senior leadership. (2) Personal growth in leadership or their respective ministry area. (3) Ministry needs

As we continue to assess and adjust these areas, our communication should become clearer and more effective. Our ministry leaders should feel better connected and supported not only by the senior leadership, but by each other, and as a corporate body we should see growth both physically and spiritually. Thank you for your service and your assistance in finding a solution to this issue.

Sincerely,
The Senior Leadership Team

I think that this particular scenario is far more common than most would think. Having been raised in small churches for first 37 years of my life, I understand all to clearly the issues that arise when senior leadership of the church doesn’t clearly and consistently communicate with the volunteers and staff of the church. Frustrations run high, people burn themselves out and end up walking away mad and dejected. Having served in a large church for the past two months, I have had the opportunity to see what good and clear communication can do for ministry leaders. I think that it is imperative for churches big and small, to take a good hard look at how they communicate both internally and externally. Things that go unsaid, most often speak louder than what is.




Resources
Bible. (NIV)
Daman, G.C., (2004, October 5). Raising morale in the small church. Ministry Health. Retrieved November 18, 2010. From http://www.ministryhealth.net/mh_articles/047_gd_raising_morale_in_the_small_church. html
DuFrene, D. D., & Lehman, C. M. (2006). Communications I and II: Eng 140/141. Mason, OH:Thomson
Massey, M. (2009, January 28). Common concern of church communication. Message posted to http://blog.memberhub.com/common-concern-of-church-communication/

New Chapter

Well, now that it is official, I can share it with you all. Over this past summer, I have been transitioning out of my position as the worship leader at Union Chapel Church here in Fort Wayne so that I can situate myself in a place where I could learn more, get stretched and mentored in leading worship and my musicianship. Lisa and I decided that once we left Union Chapel, we would most likely attend a church close to our house so we could be more involved in the community and have easier access to the church for events.

We were looking at two churches that are right in our backyards and Emmanuel Community seemed to be a better fit for our family. I was born to be a leader, but I figured that even leaders need to be schooled and mentored, so I decided that I would join the worship and arts team at ECC as a volunteer, and serve and learn what I could as long as God wanted us there.

Time moved on, and I found out that ECC was actually looking to hire a part time worship leader to help with 2 of the 5 services they have on the weekends. I applied for the job and three times over the past two months I have auditioned for the position as a guest worship leader. I just got word Monday that the elder board voted that I was the right person to take the position and I officially start September 4th leading my first service there.

I am really excited, not only for the opportunities and on the job training I will gain, but for my family as well. There are plenty of opportunities for them to get involved to serve and still attend a service to get built up and encouraged as well.

The past 5 years at Union Chapel have been a blessing and I have learned a lot about myself, leadership, people and life. I have made some wonderful and close friends and intend to keep those relationships going as we begin this new chapter. Thank you for all of you who were praying for us during this time of seeking wisdom and understanding, we appreciate it.

I am looking forward to what the future holds for not only our lives, but for Union Chapel as well. I know God will do great things as we are both stretched and made dependent on God's power and strength.

Graduation Milestone

Today, I experienced a milestone. I have had goals and such, but today felt like a milestone. I graduated today with a little over 1000 other IWU graduates, 4 of which were some great guys I have had the opportunity and pleasure of getting to know over the past two and a half years.

It felt good to walk across the stage and get my diploma, although I am going back, it feels nice to have finished this chapter of life. I am looking forward to going back and getting my degree in Biblical Studies, and I am sure I will learn much through the next two years. Next graduation date is set for August 2012. (insert chuckle)

My family has been a huge support, and quite honestly has helped me get through some of the hard times while in school. It was fun challenging my oldest to see who could get a better grade in class, but of course mine costs more so I am working hard to beat him every time.

Two more years.......it's not really that long.......I can say that now, but all will be well. When I have a huge paper staring me in the face, I am exhausted and want to walk away, I will thank God for the opportunity He has given me to further my knowledge of His word, I will buckle down and get it done.

LORD, thank you for your strength, wisdom, and patience with me. Please help me to be a blessing and a servant to you. AMEN

Transitions

I find it interesting that the word "Transition" as defined by Webster says:

1 a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : change b : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another

The very next definition for the same word says:

2 a : a musical modulation b : a musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another


Over the past few months, Lisa and I have been investigating some opportunities with two churches, both of which have been exploring their future needs in the music and arts ministries. I have spent some time in each place and have been given opportunities to serve them by leading worship in both places. This has been a very good experience for, not only me, but for my family as well. I have learned more about myself, my likes and dislikes, and my family has learned the same for themselves.

As many of you may already know, I gave notice at Union Chapel Church that my family would be leaving at the end of August in pursuit of training for myself and my career, and my calling into full-time ministry. Lisa and I knew that in order for me to get better in leadership, music, and teaching, I would need to move to a place where I could be mentored and trained up. I have learned a lot at Union Chapel and will always be grateful for the lessons, values, spiritual truths, and relationships I have been blessed to receive there.

As the 1st definition says, transition is a time of evolution from one form to another, from one stage to another, and that pretty much mirrors or explains my life right now. I am in transition as I move from being the sole music and arts leader, to a place where I will be among many leaders in that ministry. At first I am sure that I will struggle because for 13 years I have done this without specific mentorship or training, and I have gotten used to making decisions on my own. I have served under some great pastors and friends, but now I will get the opportunity to serve along side other leaders whose calling is the same and who's passions are the same. This will be a huge plus for me as I believe it will make me a better leader, a more creative musician and will in general stretch me and train me up.

Currently I feel as though I am in the middle with out a particular place to stand. It is a weird feeling, but one that I know is necessary. I know what my past looks like and where I have been, and I have a pretty clear idea of what the near future holds, so I guess you could say, I know right where I am. I guess that is a good thing..(insert chuckle)

The second part of the definition describes the word transition by using musical language, this I found funny since my life kind of revolves around music. As I thought about it a little more, I guess you could say that my life, (my song) is in transition. I am somewhere between the Verse and the Chorus. Let's say I am in the Pre-Chorus of my life right now. There is tension, and the volume is building, and you know that something more is coming, yet there is a slight pause, a small hesitation before things get on....and once it does, things seem to move along more smoothly. Ok enough of the metaphors, you get what I mean....

I am excited to say the least about what is coming and once everything gets ironed out and finalized, I will be more free to share it all. I trust that God has everything in control and is leading this process as we stay prayerful and watchful as to what He is doing in our lives. The feelings, the process, the "transitions" will all make sense and will all be worth it in the end.

So anyway, I say all this to try to explain how I have been feeling lately with our move. Stuck in the middle, not sure where to stand, a little out of the loop, but excited about what is to come.............Hmmmm...it would have been easier to just say that.

Wisdom

Waiting on God can be hard at times, but I think I am learning that as I wait on God to reveal His direction for our life, I don't have to do it and be bored or impatient. I have been waiting on God for quite a while now to answer some prayers we have and to reveal to us the direction He wants us to go. I have been learning that as we wait, we can do so actively by pursuing wisdom and understanding. I have never claimed to know everything, although I sometimes act like it, but one thing I do know is this. I have learned that as I wait on God, I can miss a lot if I obsess about His answer. I miss the journey that takes place as I wait, and the discovery of this truth is priceless in terms of the difference of having lived it or having endured it.

As I begin to understand the process and try my best to live it, every moment of it, every opportunity of it, I begin to understand a little more about myself and by doing that I gain wisdom. If God were to just answer our prayers the instant we asked them, I believe we would end up like spoiled little children that didn't appreciate what they had been given. But by waiting for it, working for it, trusting that it will be His best for you, you begin to appreciate and cherish the moments and opportunities that come your way that will prepare you for the answer. Regardless of what God's answer is for us, I can trust that it is His best answer, for me, for my family, and for those around us.

I love God, I love His gifts to me and my family, I love the opportunities and moments He blesses us with that teach and stretch us to rely on and trust in Him more. I know that his answer and His will for our lives is His best for us, and that is something that I am looking forward discovering in His time.

Colossians 1:10-12 (New International Version)

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Faith

One year ago this week, my life was turned up on edge and shaken around a few times. It has changed the course of my life and I am the better for it.

For the better part of 13 years, I have been leading worship as a volunteer through music and arts in local churches. Over these years I have had the growing feeling that God was calling me to full-time ministry. I eventually went back to school to get a degree in Christian Ministries and will eventually obtain my bachelors in Biblical Studies. My passion for full-time ministry dwarfs almost everything else in my life except my love for God, my wife and my boys. I currently serve on staff part-time as the worship and arts director at a local church, and have been there for almost 4 years. I enjoy very much what do when I am able to do it, and am blessed to have made so many friends and built so many relationships there. I also work full-time as a welder at a local welding shop, so balancing church and work, family and school has me very busy.

I spend countless hours buried in the basement office doing homework, planning services, practicing songs, goal setting and keeping up communications with those I need to direct and stay in contact with, not to mention doing all my schooling online. I love what I do for the Kingdom, I really do, so much so that I am willing to uproot my family and move to where ever God leads us next. I believe to the core of my being that God has been preparing us for the great things He has in store for me and my family, and one of the things I am learning, very painfully, is that my timing is not His timing.

Last June in 2009, I served as the Executive Producer for our denominations National Conference. During the conference, I met the pastor of a church from another part of the country who liked the job I did during the conference. He mentioned to my wife how he was going to be looking for someone to do that for his church on a weekly basis. One thing led to another and within a few months he and I were talking more specifically about it via email and facebook.

Fast forward 7 months to February 2010, and we are making our first trip out to visit the church, see the town and the people; and get a feel for if we think we could raise our family there and live in that part of the country while serving on staff full-time. We enjoyed our trip very much, and we were very excited for what the future might hold. We had spoken about making several more trips out to visit as well as taking our boys for a vacation there. Fast forward another 2 months to April 2010. The economy had been in the tank and it finally caught up with the church. Behind budget and looking at cutting staff, it didn't seem feasible for a new position to be put into the budget.

At this point Lisa and I are asking each other questions like, "why did things go this far only to be put on hold?" "are we putting all our eggs in one basket?" "should we be looking in other places as well for full-time ministry to see if God might have something else in mind?" We figured that if we tested waters else where, and all the doors were shut, then we were to wait for this other church and for God's timing there.

So I applied at several churches that had positions open that matched my skill sets, passions and desires for ministry. Everyone of them came back as a closed door. That process felt good in terms of having some confirmation one way or the other. So it became evident to me that God wanted us to wait on something.To some this process appeared like I was trying to change my situation and run ahead of God, pouncing on every opportunity that came my way in hopes that it would provide happiness or answers. What they didn't understand is that it was a process that I had to go through, it was prayed about, it was on purpose and not a flight from things as they were, but a way to purge all other options, also to make sure I wasn't looking at things with mono-vision.

So where are we now? Same place I was when I started this process, waiting on God. I'm OK with that. Sometimes I feel mad at God for not yet allowing me to be in full-time ministry doing what I love, what I am passionate about. And I get jealous when my school buddies get hired into the church full-time, but at the same time, I feel so very happy for them, because they feel what I feel. I wonder at times if I will ever get the opportunity to serve in that capacity. It causes questions of doubt in my mind as to what God's plans are for my life. I dream about how I could be spending my time meeting with people and talking to them about God's love for them, setting up creative services for the weekend, creating new and fresh ways to convey the Gospel to the community and change the world with the message of Jesus Christ. Am I wrong to feel this way? Am I wrong to want this in my life?

I know the answer, it's been stamped in my head...God's will, God's timing is perfect. I know that, I believe that, and I wouldn't want it any other and this is why. I know that if God sends me somewhere and I go, then He will resource everything I need to accomplish the mission He has given me. He will give me everything I need both physically, mentally and spiritually. I believe that, so I guess my prayer tonight is, God please help me in my unbelief. Help me to trust in you more, to know that you are working and I just don't see it. You know what's best for our life and I don't need to know right now, I just need to know that you are God, you are good, and your way is the best way.

Waiting isn't my strong suit, but I do love and need to learn how to serve more humbly and lead more effectively. I decided that while waiting on God and his timing, I can at least learn more about leadership, teaching and music, and all the other areas of ministry I enjoy. Therefore; we decided that we will leave where we are serving now, and I will place myself under leadership and folks who have been where I am, and have gone where I would like to go. I have prayed for wisdom and sought wisdom from Godly men whom I respect and trust about this decision, and it seems like a wise move both in terms of ministry and career. I have no doubt that this new chapter in our lives will stretch us and allow us to grow even more. I am excited about what the future might hold. I will continue to be prepared in and out of season and available to God to use as He pleases. Here am I, send me!

Psalm 86:11-12
"Teach me Your way O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth; grant me purity of heart that I may honor you. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever"

The Gathering

On any given Sunday morning, you will find people gathering in their local church for worship. As we come together and begin to focus on God, we engage in what is called the Gathering. It is the first of four foundational walls of biblical worship. In the Gathering, a conversation starts between God and his people, and its specific purpose is to help us focus our hearts and minds on Him so that we are ready to receive the word of God.

As the conversation begins, God speaks to us as we listen to scripture being read, the lyrics of the songs being sung, or as we watch the scripture being interpreted through dance or drama. Then we begin to respond in the conversation with a spirit of celebration and thankfulness for who God is and what He has done, not only in our lives, but those around us.

As we progress in this conversation with God, His words and our response become more focused on Him. We intentionally bring our full attention to rest on God the Creator. Now we are ready to receive the spoken word through the sermon or message spoken by the pastor. As we come together for worship this Sunday, come knowing that God wants to speak to you, He desires to have a conversation with you that will help you to understand Him better and love Him more.

The Lamb Slain

Revelation 5; 7:9-17

5:6-7
"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders... 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."


My first observation is that the Lamb (Christ) is able to walk up to God who is sitting on the throne, and take the scroll from his right hand. This is significant because it shows us God's approval of this slain lamb, and it shows us of the lambs strength. Who can take something from the hand of God but God Himself. This is yet another indication and reminder that Christ, the slain lamb, is indeed God.

My second observation is that of the worship that is happening in heaven around the throne of God. In the presence of God, every knee bows, there is no option. All the angels and elders and creatures fall to their faces and worship the LORD, It is an all consuming worship.

As we think of Jesus Christ, we need to remember and be reminded that Christ is God. Who can remove the separation that God placed on humanity but God Himself! As I think of the picture of worship that is given here, it serves as a reminder that when we worship God, it ought not to be on the basis of whether or not we like the music, or the atmosphere, it ought to be based on who God is. His Holiness, His righteousness, His love for us and His working in our lives.

If we choose to let silly things like music, lighting, atmosphere, and others around us, get in the way of worshiping God, the creator of the heavens and the earth. The God that created YOU and gave YOU LIFE, then it really isn't worship at all.

"Worship is the quickening of conscience by His holiness: the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to HIS purpose - and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin."

William Temple


Revelation 5

The Scroll and the Lamb

1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" 14The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb." 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

14I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

"Your God"

I had the pleasure of visiting a local church for Sunday service this morning, and as we were getting ready to pray, we were directed to prepare our hearts for prayer. In the process, the leader said this and I quote, "as you get ready to pray, prepare yourself however you do to go to your God." Now how I took this was to say that however I view God in my own mind, I was to prepare myself to go to Him, whatever that might look like. I am hoping that isn't how it was intended, but it got me to thinking.

How many times do we tend to look at God in a way that makes us feel better about our position or our condition? In times of distress, do we look at God as a tender loving God that will certainly not allow us to go through trials and tribulations? In times of great prosperity, do we tend to see God as Ok with us because life is so good and I'll bet even often times, we forget about Him, because there hasn't been a "need" to go to Him.

We need to be careful about doing this, because God is who He says He is. We cannot make God into something He is not. We must not assume Him to be anything other than what He says in His word that He is. If we do, we break the first and second commandment:

"ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'

TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'

There are literally hundreds of references in the Bible where God says "I AM..." He tells us who He is, we just need to pay attention and stop assuming who He is. When we assume or try to make God something that He is not, we form in our mind an idol, a false God. This is why it is important we come to know the character and nature of God, who He says He is.

We should not be under any allusion that we each have access to our own God, or that we even have a deal with God that allows us to live our lives as we choose. There is but ONE God, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We either choose to serve Him as HE is or not at all. It is not God that changes, we do.

Boys will be boys

This is a response paper I had to write to an column that showed up in our local paper back in 2000.


Jonah Goldberg in his column “War on boys is war on manhood” brings some very interesting information to light concerning the current philosophy of raising children, specifically boys, in such a way as to curb their “barbaric” behaviors and level the playing field for children in general. He addresses the issue of self-esteem and egos in children being harmed due to competitive environments.

Goldberg’s visit to the Upper West Side Manhattan school, brings up some disturbing and sad images of children not having a reason to try to do their best. Where is the reward in telling a child that no matter how hard he or she tries, they will do no better than a child who doesn’t? How then is the child’s ego or self-esteem boosted, which in turn brings about a desire to do better the next time. By removing the affirmation of hard work and individual growth, you essentially remove the desire or the drive to do anything at all. Being competitive is a natural instinct of a boy. Instead of squelching it and driving it out of him, we would do better to teach them how to harness it to work for them, to better them, and to eventually better society through it.

Society today would have us believe that by taking away the natural instincts of boys and regulating them in their ability to act as boys, we can effectively enhance not only their adolescence but that of the female gender as well. According to academic feminists, “…girls are an endangered species, falling further behind academically and socially.” (Goldberg, 2000) They go on to claim that, “Boys create a competitive, nasty, environment.” Gloria Steinem says the solution to this issue is to, “…raise boys like we raise girls.” Goldberg does not agree with this position nor that of the school, that being of an “everybody wins” mindset, which says, no matter how bad or good you do, as long as you had fun, that’s all that matters. He sites several statistics in response to the claims that girls are falling behind academically and socially. Some of them concerning education being that, “Girls read more books, get better grades,” and “take more Advanced Placement Classes.” Goldberg also cites that in 1997, “56 percent of college freshman were girls… boys 44 percent.”

Some of the main assumptions that come from Goldberg’s arguments are that “all children are essentially barbarians, but boys especially so. Thus it requires more work to make them into human beings.” This argument assumes that children are inherently bad or naturally mean and aggressive. I would content that children are a product of their environment at home. Children are sponges and will learn from what they experience and see. I think Goldberg goes a bit far in terming all children as barbarians; maybe a more suited term or phrase would be to say that all children are ignorant to acceptable behavior and need to be instructed and taught toward that end. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of the parents, not the school system.

Another assumption of Goldberg is that allowing boys to be boys will eventually lead them to being well adjusted men. I would again contend that allowing boys to act, as they will, will most likely not produce a well adjusted man but will produce a man that thinks he can act any way he wants and get away with it. Well-adjusted men are men that understand their ability and nature to act in certain ways, but demonstrate control over that ability. When faced with a problem or issue, men certainly act differently than women do, and in most cases for specific reasons. For example; In times of war, it is easier for a male to fight with an aggressive nature than for a female. And when your child comes to you crying because they skinned their knee, they often times will want mommy because a female can provide that tender loving support needed at the time.

For the most part, I agree with what Goldberg states in his column. I disagree with the stance these particular schools have taken with teaching children that hard work, perseverance and a competitive spirit are bad traits. I think in the log run, they are setting those particular children up for failure as adults, especially in their careers and in their relationships. I agree that we should allow boys to act like boys, to demonstrate, in a healthy way, their competitiveness and aggressiveness. I believe that by doing so, we will bring up men that will be able to understand who they are, what they are capable of, and endow them with a spirit of perseverance that will bring them through the difficult things life can throw at them. For myself, my three sons will be allowed to play hard, challenge each other, discover what they can and can’t do and all with the intent of training them to become a man that can be respected, trusted and dependable.



References
Goldberg, J. (2000, July 17). War on boys is war on manhood. Fort Wayne Journal-
Gazette, p. A11.

Paper #6 - Christian Behavior

Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him?

Loving our enemies has to be one of the hardest things we can do as Christians. I do not understand, outside of being God, how Christ hurl curses at the guards that beat him to within an inch of his life. I do not understand how he could stand in front of the crowd that was calling out, “crucify him!” and not argue back in his own defense. Quietly, and with love he looked on them with a heart of compassion and anguish for their actions. The question above takes this one step further and asks about punishment. How can we punish someone we are suppose to love, it sounds contrary to itself, however; using the argument that Lewis uses it can be understood. If we are to love others as we love ourselves, then we are also to treat others as we would treat ourselves. As Lewis says, “…loving myself does not mean that I ought not to subject myself to punishment- even to death. If you had committed a murder, the right Christian thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged. It is therefore, in my opinion, perfectly right for a Christian judge to sentence a man to death or a Christian solider to kill an enemy.” (Lewis, 1952, p.118)

Lewis states that Christ did not preach anything new in regards to morality. What is the real job of every moral teacher?

I believe the real job of every moral teacher is to teach morality not as something that is new, but morality as it has always existed. New morality is adjusted morality to fit the culture of that time, and more often than not a skewed morality that has been tweaked to fit that people group or culture to make them feel better about themselves. I also think that a good moral teacher should help people understand that morals not only exist for the protection and betterment of others, but they also pertain to the wellbeing of the individual and the relationship between that individual and their creator. The metaphor of the sea worthy ship was useful in helping me understand that I may look good on the outside and may be going the right direction in the convoy of life, but If I cannot steer or control this vessel, what good am I to the convoy, better yet how much damage can I do to the other ships (people) around me if I don’t make sure the inside of me is taken care of as well.

Lewis states that charity (giving to the poor) is an essential part of Christianity. How can we gauge our level of charity according to Lewis?

I really appreciate what Lewis had to say about giving to the poor and to those in need, specifically when he said, “I do not believe that one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away to little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.” This is a great way of looking at it. I remember the story in the bible about Jesus sitting in the temple watching people. The Pharisees came in and gave an offering out of their overflow or out of their excess, but a woman came in and gave 2 small coins, all she had. Christ noticing her told his disciples that she had given much more than they because she had given everything she had and the Pharisees had given that which did not hurt them. This is a wonderful thing to consider the next time we give to the poor.

What are the two things we can do to make loving our enemies easier?

I think the first thing we can do is to understand that before we accepted Christ, we to were enemies to God. Yet He loved us not because of what we were or what we could do, but because of what we could become through Him. Not that our enemies will be come something through us, rather they will become something useful through God. The second thing that can make it easier for us to love our enemies is that we are commanded to love others as we love ourselves. We do not walk around hating ourselves. We may hate our situation or the things that have happened to us, but that is not self hate, that is a whole other matter. I believe there is a third issue we must consider that being the love of God for our enemies. We may feel that sense of hate or distain toward those who would harm us or have harmed us, but God still desires that person to be broken and surrender to Him and his will for their life. Because of our love for our father, we to ought to love those He loves.

In Lewis' mind, why is the command 'Though shalt not Kill' not a moratorium against fighting in war or the death penalty?

I found this a very interesting thought process. I did not realize, although I should have, that the Greek usage of the word “kill” is different from that of “murder”. The Greek word for “kill” is apokteinO and the Greek for murder is phoneuO. Christ used two different words in his teachings about killing. To murder with intent, with hatred, with disgust for the other person is wrong. Killing for reasons of war, or judgment carry with them different motives. We must not kill for the enjoyment of it or for the retribution of it. Some of us will find ourselves in situations where we must make that chilling and difficult choice, whether it be war or self defense, the underlying factor is that we recognize that, “Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves – to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in fact, to wish his good.” (Lewis, 1952, p.120) Certainly this is difficult to contemplate, and I pray that I may never be faced with the situation where I have to choose.


References
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere christianity. New York: HarperCollins

Paper #5 - Sin, does it mean anything anymore?

The website article where I retrieved this information was from USA Today.com The basic premise of this article was to explore the topic of sin and whether or not it still hold any specific meaning in today’s culture. The article was given in a fair manner by not only supplying survey information against the validity of the existence of “sin”, but also providing interview and speech quotes for its existence and the dire need to understand that it has real consequences if not addressed in the proper manor.

Of the surveys submitted, it was clear that the concept of “sin” and its effects and ramifications on society has become a backburner issue. “David Kinnaman, president of Barna Research, a company in Ventura, Calif., that tracks Christian trends, draws a similar conclusion: "People are quick to toe the line on traditional thinking" that there is sin "but interpret that reality in a very personal and self-congratulatory manner" — I have to do what's best for me; I am not as sinful as most.” (Grossman, 2008,) by taking such a view we underestimate the power sin has in our lives and what that kind of mindset can actually cost us in the long run.

The article also examined how ministers in today’s society speak about sin. The comment was made that sin is taboo and it is not something that most people like to discuss, but today’s ministers also understand that it must be talked about in order for the rest of the story to make sense. One popular preacher has decided to not talk about sin, but rather to talk about change. Joel Olsteen was quoted as saying, "Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church, I want to tell them that you can change." (Grossman, 2008,) For all practical purposes I agree that we should tell people they can change, however; I would say that most people understand that they can change; but what they need to understand is why they must change.

Mark Driscoll was also interviewed and his take on the taboo word of sin was this, “…a little talk of hellfire, so out of fashion these days, would do the world good.” He defines sin as "anything contrary to God's will. People assume the way they are is normal, not that something has gone terribly wrong, and this world is abnormal…without an idea of sin, Easter is meaningless." (Grossman, 2008,)

Sin must be recognized as the poison that it is. If it is not dealt with according to the plan laid out in the word of God, then it is truly not dealt with, only forgotten or ignored. That kind of mindset will only last for so long.

References
Grossman, C. L., (2008). Usatoday: Has the “notion of sin” been lost? Retrieved August
29, 2009, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-03-19-sin_N.htm

Paper #4 - What Christians Believe

In book one, Lewis makes the statement that his, “…argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how ad I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called in unjust?” (Lewis, 1943, p.38) This argument alone is a great concept for one to investigate.

Romans 5:12-13 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned; for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.” (NIV) Because the law was brought into the world to expose our sin, begs the question or argument that our sin is in contention with something. The notion that our sin needs to be pointed out and exposed, suggests that our sin goes against a presupposed condition, that condition being goodness or right standing with a higher power (God). If the Law was given by God or determined by God to hold us accountable of our sin, and to bring us back to our previous position with Him, it stands to reason that God is good, sin is bad and the law helps us determine between the two. Without the law how would one know that they are in sin?

Chapter two speaks about good verses evil and how people view the two. Lewis states that the moment we say one is wrong and the other is right, we insert a third qualitative element that determines the difference between them. “But since the two powers are judged by this standard, then this standard, or the Being who made this standard, is further back and higher up than either of them, and He will be the real God. In fact, what we meant by calling them good and bad turns out to be that one of them is in a right relation to the real ultimate God and the other in a wrong relation to Him.” (Lewis, 1943, p.43) How could we know good to be right unless there is something to match it up against? Without light, one would not know what darkness is.

In chapter three, Lewis speaks about some people that say things like, “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” Lewis so wittingly points out how absurd and shallow this statement is. Understanding the context of this statement and the ramifications of such a claim do much to back up the claim. A “great” moral teacher would never be so foolish as to claim to be something he is not let alone God. It would go against his morality to do so.

Lewis goes on in chapter four about how we need God to help us walk the road of redemption back to him because the very “badness” that took us away or separated us from God, keeps us from walking that road on our own. But because that road of surrender, repentance, and dying to our sinful nature go against God’s character and nature, he could not walk that road. It then became necessary for God to become man thus the birth of Jesus Christ. Although fully God, He lived as man in the flesh, subjected to the same temptations and suffering that we are. Through Christ in the flesh, God was and is able to walk us down that road of redemption. Christ acts as the tour guide to show us the way, and walk with us as we go.

Finally in chapter five, Lewis makes the fundamental distinction between salvation by works verses salvation by grace through faith. It is important for us to understand this because it is a bedrock teaching of Christianity. “…the Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or, if they think there is not, at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.” Lewis, 1943, p.63) It is through the life of Christ that lives in us that God would be willing to grant us salvation and remove our deserved punishment of death and eternal separation from Him.

Resources
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere christianity. New York: HarperCollins

Paper #3 Creation Museum

Question: Explain what you believe is the Christian view of creation. Why do you think this article attacks a Christian worldview of the nature of Creation? What is your response in defense of the Christian worldview and why is it crucial?

Scientific American Magazine is dedicated to helping readers be informed about science and it advancements by helping people “focus on the future of science and technology.” That statement in and of itself does not indicate anything bad, because we need science and technology. It only becomes an issue when science and technology are glorified and the “focus” becomes more about justifying and preserving our existence through science rather than recognizing our existence is of God and living our lives in accordance with that understanding.

In the Scientific American article/podcast titled, “Saddle up that stegosaurus, a visit to the creation museum.” College professor and expert on natural history museums, Stephan Asma is interviewed by Steve Mirsky of Scientific American about a recent visit to the Creation Museum. It is apparent in this interview that Asma does not hold a Christian worldview. In the interview, while talking about Ken Ham, the curator of the Creation Museum, Mirsky talks about a fascinating conversation that was had between Asma and Ham about creationism, and Asma had this to say. “…I think, if you don’t enter into the creationist logic too far, it is really easy to go well, you know, crazy, crackpot, insane. But if you actually try to, like I did, have a reasonable conversation with somebody like Ken Ham, you feel that there is a kind of logic there. It just begins from very bizarre premises.”

The beginning is where the story starts. It is where the foundations are laid to a solid worldview. Without a solid foundation the worldview we build will one day come crashing down around us. Asma clearly believes that the Christian worldview has a bizarre foundation. I believe however, that if Asma would continue to have those reasonable conversations with the like of Ham, he too would begin to understand that it is his foundation that is bizarre and needs to be rebuilt.


Resources
Scientific american magazine. (2009). Scientificamerican. Retrieved August 20, 2009,
from http://scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=FDACA16A-E7F2-99DF-323D104DD12EFCAE

Paper #2 - The Law of Nature

Professors comments are italicized

Do you agree with Lewis in his observation of the existence of a Universal “Law of Human Nature,” an innate sense of right and wrong? Do you agree with Lewis when he says that none of us are keeping the Law of Nature? How do you think Lewis would respond to contemporary proponents of moral relativism?

Concerning Lewis’ statement of the “Law of Human Nature”. I would have to agree with him. You can see evidence of this just about everywhere you go. The vast expanses that separate humanity here on earth cannot seem to separate us in this one truth. The Law of Nature is written on our hearts. Genesis 1:26 says this, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them role over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (NIV). 1 Samuel 16:7, also says, “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (NIV). This does not mean that we look like God in the physical sense; rather our moral compass is designed to reflect that of God’s.

In other words, if God is unconcerned with what we as humanity look like on the outside, and is more concerned with what is at the core of us, what we believe to be true in our hearts. It makes sense then to say that God instilled in us the moral capacity to know between right and wrong and to reflect what his moral values are. Good argument


I would also agree with Lewis that no one is keeping the Law of Nature. As much as we would like to believe that we are decent people, we all break the moral law, and I believe it is due to a vast amount of reasons, but chiefly among them is sin. The Law of Human Nature; a certain way in which we believe we are to behave, is another way of quoting Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (NIV). From the beginning, God has placed this instinct into our hearts, yet on a daily basis we are most often more concerned about ourselves than with others.

Moral relativism simply means that morality is relative to an individual or a specific culture, and that there is no over-arching moral standard for humanity. I think Lewis would take issue with this viewpoint. I also believe he would approach it by asking them to explore, “the moral teachings of, say the, ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Hindus, Chinese, Greeks and Romans. What will really strike him will be how very like they are to each other and to our own” (Lewis, 1952. p.6).


Reference
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins

Good use of Scripture to validate your points.
William McGuffey, author of the McGuffey's Readers, which were the mainstay of America's public school system from 1836 till the 1920's, wrote: "Erase all thought and fear of God from a community, and selfishness and sensuality would absorb the whole man."

Apart from a God consciousness, I wonder, can anyone really ever know what is moral or not…that is, if all we have within us is selfishness and sensuality, can moral thought even exist ???

1st Paper for Defending the Christian Faith -"TRUTH"

Here is my first "short" paper for my new class "Defending the Christian Faith", with the bonus of my Professors comments in italicized text for those of you who are crazy enough to sit down to read my stuff. LOL

The source I used for this summary is a website I stumbled on while searching for an article on “Truth”. This website is created and updated by a self proclaimed Satanist and aggressive liberal named Vexen Crabtree. The website is comprehensive in nature and has a lot of information on it concerning Satanism and Atheism.

Here is a general summary of what he believes and what the website is about. “The basics of Satanism have always existed. The only thing that is new is the formal organization of a religion based on the universal traits of man. For centuries, magnificent structures of stone, concrete, mortar, and steel have been devoted to man's abstinence. It is high time that human beings stopped fighting themselves, and devoted their time to building temples designed for man's indulgences.” Dangerous stuff huh? Another reason why my kids do not have a computer in their bedroom…it is in the family room in plain view…the possibility of stumbling across such junk is too easy!

Even though times have changed, and always will, man remains basically the same. For two thousand years man has done penance for something he never should have had to feel guilty about in the first place. We are tired of denying ourselves the pleasures of life, which we deserve. [...] Why not have a religion based on indulgence? Certainly, it is consistent with the nature of the beast. We are no longer supplicating weaklings trembling before an unmerciful "God" who cares not whether we live or die. We are self-respecting, prideful people - we are Satanists!" “The Satanic Bible, Book of Lucifer 3:para 37-38” Lord, help us.

It is very disturbing to read through this information and imagine that people actually subscribe to this to called “truth”. As I juxtapose this kind of information with what we read in the bible or even what we are currently reading now for class, I can’t imagine pouring my life into such nonsense as Satanism. They obviously want to believe in something, to worship something; I just think their worldview is messed up and for lack of better understanding and knowledge; they subscribe to what makes them feel good about themselves.

I also believe and understand that most of these groups follow more of a secret society format, so I ask why, if they claim this to be the truth, does it have to be a secret. Why not proclaim it to the world that these “truths” they claim are real, why operate in secret? I believe it goes back to what Lewis had to say about the Law of Nature. They know what they are doing is wrong, they know that the majority of society will not subscribe to such folly and evil, therefore they keep it on the down low and under the bleachers so to speak. Their guilt compounds their desire to make them feel better about themselves. Folks that subscribe to these kinds of cults and “religious” societies are misguided and uninformed and that is where Christianity comes in.